Manicure Monday: Faux Diamonds

I am absolutely in love with the idea of gems, lace, and other things to bedazzle your manicure. I’m not quite as in love with anything that will make my manicure 3D. If my nails aren’t totally smooth, I find that my nails snag on my hair way too often. So as much as I love the idea of applying gems and rhinestones to make my manicure stand out, I always end up regretting it later. Enter Sharpie, the perfect tool to fake some diamonds on your digits.

Start out with your basic manicure prep – buffed and filed nails, topped with a coat of Nail Tek II to keep them healthy and strong.

For the manicure, I used Julep’s Gabrielle, a smoky mulberry purple. I’ve fallen in love with this color – in some lights, it looks purple. In others, it looks gray. In others, it looks navy. I think I’ve found my go-to manicure color for autumn.

Whatever color you choose, allow your manicure to dry completely before moving on. As with any Sharpie nail art design, your base color needs to be totally dry or the pressure from the Sharpie will ruin your manicure.

Take your Sharpie and begin your design by simply dotting along your nail. I wanted swirls of “rhinestones,” so I began to just dot it out. The best part? The dots are totally symmetrical! I created two swirled designs on my ring finger and thumb nails.

Wait a minute or so to let the Sharpie dry before finishing with your favorite top coat! I used Essie’s Good to Go to finish off the look.

About Kathleen Tower

Kathleen is the style editor for The Collabor-eight. She's a 23-year-old true Jersey girl; big hair, bigger heart. Her passion for beauty and makeup started with an internship at Seventeen Magazine and has grown ever since. After graduating from Villanova, she turned her love for Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter into a full-time job as a social media coordinator! When she's not at work, she's browsing everywhere from the Internet to the streets for her own "Manicure Monday" inspiration. She believes that true style comes from a mix of high and low, designer and drugstore, expensive splurges and nearly steals!